Gramophone.



L. T. HAILE. GRAMOPHONE.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 21, 1907.

923, 1 1 9. Patented May 25, 1909.

IN VE N 7'01? 1' wtzm ,4 TTURNEY.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

LUTHER T, H'AILE, ()l Il-lllA-DELPI-IIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR, BY DIRECT ANDMESNE ASSIGNMENTS, OF ONE-FIF'PI'I TO MAURI(E N. WEYL AND WILLIAM A. MACK IE, ONE-FIFTH TO JOSEPH W. SHANNON, ()NE -T\\"EN-TIETI-I TO FREDERICK J. GEIGER, AND ONE-TWEN- TIEIII TO LOGAN W. M ULFORD, ALL OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

GRAMOPHONE Specification of Letters Patent. I

Original application filed July 6, 1906, Serial No. 324,978.

Patented May 25,1909.

Divided and this application filed February 21, 1907.

Serial N0. 358,662.

atively supporting and propelling the soundbox mechanism relatively to the traveling record, in order that the latter shall no longer perform the functionof propelling the sound-box mechanism as commonly done in known machines of this character.

My invention also relates to means, in such machines, for readily bringing the actuating shafts into and out of operative register, to more readily remove and replace a record tablet.

The primary object of the first part of i the invention is as stated above, but'its :ninor objects and the incidental advantages flowing from its principle of construction and operation are three-fold; namely, it

permits both vertical and lateral play of the directly-actuating connection between the threaded shaft and sound-box mechanism,

due to inequalities in the record, automatic versely-disposed rib adapted to register with the correspondingly slotted end of a connectingsh'aft as hereinafter described, whereby" ally adjusting itself, in relation to the soundbox mechanism, hence compensating for the arc-like movements of the latter over the record; it responds and adjusts itself automatically to abnormal movements of the stylus or needle over the record due to inaccuracies in the sound-grooves on the face of the record tablet; and finally regulates and controls the depth of engagement of the needle with the record.

My present invention about to be described is a division of my former and pending appli cation Ser. No. 324,978 filed July 6; 1906 for Letters Patent, and it consists of the mechanism hereinafter set forth, to accomplish the ob'ects above recited; the distinctively novel features being pointed out in the appended claims; 1

In the drawings illustrating my invention: Figure 1 is an elevation, in perspective, of the exterior of a talking-machine'- cabinet, showing the sound-box mechanism, the means for operatively sup )orting and propelling it over the record, t e threaded actuating shaft therefor and its pivoted connection with the cabinet. Figs. 2 and 3 are respectively plan and side elevations of] the propelling mechanism and the actuating threaded. shaft; and Fig. 4 is an elevation, partly broken away, of the novel means for operatively connecting the pivoted actuating mechanism with the main shaft and vnth the sound-box and adjunctive parts, to swing them into and out of operative register.

I will now describe my invention, by reference to the drawing. In Fig. 1 is shown in perspective the exterior of the cabinet 20 of the machine, and the usual sound-box mechanism comprising the diaphragm holder 2. These parts must, as usual, be supported and propelled over the revoluble record tab-- let 21, which is a centrally apertured annular plate mounted by such-aperture, upon the projecting end of the vertically disposed main'shaft 14, .and resting u on a supporting plate 27 also carried by suc 1 shaft 14 which is rotated by spring mechanism or any other suitable motor, as usual, andtherefore not shown nor necessary to be described. The upper end of the main shaft 14 is rovided witlranactuating head in the form 0 a transthe threaded "shaft 19 which directly .actuates the"sound-rnechanism and its aidjunc- .gear 16 on the end. of a short shaft 16 having a slotted end 16 adapted to engagethe suitably ribbed head end of the main shaft when brought into register therewith as aforesaid. The rearward end of the housing 17, 17', is hinged to the u per end of a fixed bracket 18 011 the side wall of the cabinet. The result Cir tions to that method and means of propulhave an .adjustably controlled pressure,-

actuating head end of the main'shaft, and

- see Fig- 4.

of this construction is that the threadedi shaft and its bevel earing is pivotally supported over the tablet record and over the can be swuiig up and down (the sound-box mechanism being first removed as usual) to permit ready removal and replacement of a tablet record 21 on the supporting-plate 27 rotated by such main shaft.

.-.The other equally 'if not more important art of the invention, I will now describe. n machines of this class as now known, the sound-box mechanism is not onlysupported by the traveling tablet record but is propelled thereby. I avoid the many known objecsion, by the following method and means which relieve the record tablet from the performance of that function.

As before stated, the actuating threaded shaft 19 is operatively supported in a plane arallel with the plane of the revolving tabet record, the sound grooves in which are usually spiral, from center to circumference, and the sound-box mechanism has a -motion in like direction, which is a movement from center to rim of the tablet and which is parallel with the threaded shaft save as modified by the slightly arc-like swaying movement of the sound-box, as the needle abuts with the side walls of the sound-grooves in the tablet, for it is the side walls thereof and not the bottom wall of the groove which give sound-producing vibratory movements to the needle. The spur arm 22 (see Figs. 1 and 4) projects outwardly some little distance from the sound-box mechanism and must be operatively supported transversely, to the length of the actuating shaft 19, the hook end of the spur arm engaging the threads of the rotating shaft 19,passing from thread to thread thereof as thesound-box mechanism travels from center" to rim of the revolving tablet. To support and properly maintain this spur arm in operative engagement with the threaded shaft, I provide an actuating arm 23, which is mounted dependinglyon the frame 2 of the diaphragm holder, being fast by one end thereon, with the lower end free and bearing against the inner and inclined end of the said spur arm. The actuating arm 23 is shown as a spring arm, because it must have resiliency and exert outwardly bearing pressure against the inner and inclined end of the spur arm, but it must hence' I apply thereto the tension screw 24,

To permit a slight rise and fall of the spur arm near its inner or shank end, and also-a slight lateral or swinging movement thereof, a supporting device is provided therefor whic also operates to guidingly permit vertical lateral play as aforesaid; and to this end the underface of the spur arm is provided with a pin 25 which plays in a coneshaped hole in the guide-plate 7 which projects from the diaphragm holder to which it is secured and which, as shown in the drawings, may be an extension of the same plate which, as, in known constructions, operates as the guide-plate for the needle-arm. This construction controls both the lateral and vertical movements of the spur arm and of its adjunctive parts,and provides means, in combination with the other elements described, in substitution for the record itself, to propel the sound-producing mechanism over the record. I

The lower end or hook of the spur arm 22 is made sufiiciently thin to engage with the threads on the shaft 19. The sound-box being placed in position for playing, the spur 22, properlyadjusted, prevents the weight of the sound-box and its appurtenant parts from pressing too heavily on the record, thus avoiding any scraping of the moving needle on the surface of the record.

Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent 1. In an instrument of the class recited, means to propel the sound-box mechanism over the record, comprising the combination with the frame of the diaphragm holder, of a spring arm mounted by one end thereon, means to create a tension on the free end of said spring arm, a spur arm with which the free end of said spring arm operatively engages, and a threaded rotatable shaft operatively engaging the spur arm.

2. In an instrument of the class recited, the combination with the sound-box mechanism, of means to propel the same over the record, consisting of a threaded rotatable shaft, a spur arm operatively engaging the threads of said shaft, and a resilient tensioned arm mounted on the diaphragmholder and operating as well to maintain the spur arm in operative engagement with the threaded shaft as to permit vertical and lateral movements of the spur arm and adjunctive parts due to inequalities in the record.

3. In an instrument of the class recited, means operating as well to propel the soundbox mechanism over the record, as to regulate the depth of engagement of the needle.

with the record, comprising the combination with the frame of the diaphragm holder, of a resilient actuating arm mounted thereon, means to create and regulate tensional force in the free end thereof, a spur arm with which the free end of said actuating arm en- 4. In an instrument of the class recited, comprising sound-box mechanism, of means to propel the same over the record, combined with means to compensate for the arc-like with that of the revoluble record, a spur arm with which said shaft operatively engages, said spur arm projecting in a horizontal plane transversely to that of the threaded actuating shaft, a pin on the underfaec of the. spur arm, an apertured bar carried by the sound-box mechanism and. operating to guidingly support said spur arm, and' a spring-arm dependingly mounted by one end on the diaphragm holder with its free end engaging the rearward end of said spur arm and operating automatically to maintain it under varying coincidence in engagement with the threaded rotatable shaft.

5. In an instrument of the class recited comprising a cabinet containing interiorly a vertical main shaft on the projecting end of which a record tablet may be operatively mounted, the free upper end of such shafthaving a connecting actuating head, in coml ebi ary, A. l). 1

shaft when said parts are brought into register.

6. In an instrument of the class recited,

1 comprising a cabinet containing a main movements thereof in its propulsion over the record, said means comprising a threai'led rotatable shaft mounted in a plane parallel shaft, with means to rotate it, a record tablet rotatably carried by said shaft, a transversely-arranged screw-threaded shaft carrying beyel-gearing operatively engaging the .main shaftia housing frame in which said threadcdshaft is ,operatively supported on t'lie,caliinet, in combination with sound-box ""eehanisin comprising a diaphragm holder with 'a depending spring arm, a spur arm the one'en-d of which engages said. threaded. sh aftandthe other end of which is in engagement with, said depending spring arm on the diaphragnrholder, and means to guidingly support the spur arm in. its engagement with said threaded shaft.

7 A talking machine comprising a disk re cordcarrier, an axial actuating shaft therefor projecting above said carrier, a bracket, a

feed shaft disposed radially of said record carrier, a support for said shaft hinged. to said bracket, a bevel gear on the free end. of

said' feed- "shaft, a bevel gear meshing with said feed shaft gear, and means operatively connecting the said gears with the upper end of said axial actuating shaft for the disk record carrier.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto affixedgmy signature this sixteenth day of LUTHER 'r. mum;

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